UNM to Host Lobo Classic Friday - Sunday
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The University of New Mexico softball team hosts its second tournament of the season this Friday through Sunday at Lobo Softball Field with a total of 10 games scheduled. The Lobos will host La Salle, Northern Colorado and South Dakota, with UNM facing Northern Colorado once and La Salle and South Dakota twice.
UNM GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE STREAM
WEEK 3 RECAP
The Lobos competed in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, defeating UC Riverside in the first game before falling to No. 16/16 Arizona State, No. 18/19 Missouri, San Diego and California.
UNM was led at the plate by Taryn Young, who went 5-for-11 (.455) with three of the five hits going for home runs. Against Cal on Sunday, Young accounted for both Lobo hits and all three Lobo runs. The outfielder also led in slugging percentage (1.273) and on-base percentage (.538).
Andrea Howard and Young each recorded five RBI for the team high, each having two multiple RBI games and Young having two multiple hit games.
Briana Martinez and Cameryn O’Grady each tallied four walks on the weekend to lead in the category and Martinez was a perfect 2-for-2 in stolen base attempts.
In the circle, Bailey Klitzke led the pitching staff with 13.0 innings of work, allowing just nine hits and nine runs (six earned) while striking out 10 hitters, and carried an ERA of 4.15 with four appearances and one start.
O’Grady was 3-for-5 with runners on base and Rachael Hathoot was 2-for-3 with runners on. O’Grady was 2-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Young went 3-for-4 as the leadoff hitter and Reyan Tuck went 2-for-3 as the leadoff hitter.
In the field, the Lobos turned four double plays at the Mary Nutter, with two coming in the game against UC Riverside.
LOOKING ahead to week 4
UNM hosts La Salle, Northern Colorado and South Dakota in the Lobo Classic with a total of 10 games being played in three days. The Lobos will play Northern Colorado once and South Dakota and La Salle twice.
Briana Martinez enters the weekend with a 14-game streak of safely reaching base. Cameryn O’Grady has reached base safely in the last three games, and Andrea Howard and Taryn Young have reached base safely in the last two.
UNM played Northern Colorado earlier this season at the Susan Craig Classic, winning both games by a combined score of 20-6 (12-3 in five and 8-3). In the two games, Briana Martinez led with an .833 batting average, going 5-for-6 with a double and a home run, and three RBI. Howard registered five RBI against the Bears. In the circle, Kennedy Ferguson and Kiana Spencer have each recorded wins against UNC with Ferguson carrying a 1.80 ERA.
PATIENCE AT THE PLATE
UNM earned its way on base via a walk in 66 of the 335 at-bats to date. In 62 at-bats, the Lobos had full counts and of those, 36 resulted in walks (66.7%). In addition to the 36 full count walks, 12 walks were of the four-pitch variety and 18 were five-pitch walks.
UNM is tied for ninth in the nation in walks with LSU. Briana Martinez leads the Lobos in walks with 14. In Saturday’s game against Northern Colorado, the freshman drew a walk following a 10-pitch at-bat after falling behind 0-2 (KKBBFFFFBB). Against WSU in the first game, the Lobos had eight full counts with six of those resulting in walks. In the third inning against Northern Colorado on Feb. 15, Martinez hit a home run following a 3-2 count. In Sunday’s game against Cal, Howard walked on a 12-pitch at-bat after falling behind 0-2 (KFFBFBFFBFFB) in the sixth inning. In the fifth inning, Taryn Young hit a home run on a full count after fouling off two pitches.
STICKING WITH WHAT WORKS
Although the Lobos haven’t turned in the same starting lineup through the first 14 games, the Lobos have utilized the same batting order in the first four spots in the last eight games. Rachael Hathoot has led off followed by Cameryn O’Grady, and Briana Martinez in the third spot in all 14 games with Taryn Young batting ninth in 12 games. Andrea Howard has hit fourth in the last eight games.
Martinez, Hathoot, O’Grady and Howard lead the Lobos in 14 statistical categories with O’Grady, Howard and Martinez represented the most. O’Grady leads the team in hits with 14 with Hathoot, Howard and Martinez each having 11. Howard leads with 16 RBI followed by 10 from O’Grady and six from Martinez. Howard (.718) and O’Grady (.684) are the top two in slugging percentage, O’Grady (.368) and Martinez (.344) are the top two in batting average and Martinez (.553) and O’Grady (.529) are the top two in on-base percentage.
With two outs, Howard has delivered seven RBI and Hathoot and O’Grady each posted two apiece. Young has been responsible for five RBI with two outs in the inning.
Hathoot reached base in her first plate appearance in six games with a walk, a single back up the middle, a home run, a single through the left side, a single to right and a hit-by-pitch, scoring in four of those games. When leading off in any inning, the freshman infielder is 8-for-20.
Howard is 4-for-5 in situations in which there is a runner on third and less than two outs, including a RBI double in the last game against Grand Canyon which tied the game at six. Bailey Klitzke is 4-for-4 in the same situation. O’Grady is 16-for-22 in advancing runners, Martinez is 14-for-24 and Howard is 15-for-32.
GOING THE DISTANCE X4
While the Lobos have more depth at the pitcher position than in recent years, the Lobos utilized just two in their two wins on Saturday, Feb. 8.
Freshman right-hander Brianna Sanchez pitched a complete 7.0 innings in her first collegiate start against (RV) Stanford, allowing just four hits and striking out one, while throwing 47 strikes on 86 total pitches for the shutout. The freshman found herself in trouble just once with a bases-loaded situation in the second, but for the most of the morning, the Lobo pitcher kept the Cardinal off of the base paths, retiring the order in the third and fourth. The four hits were scattered through four innings and each time the defense kept the runners stranded, with the Cardinal leaving a total of five runners on base in the game.
In the next game against host GCU, senior left-hander Kiana Spencer finished with a final stat line of 7.0 innings of work, six hits, four runs (all earned), two strikeouts, four walks and 55 strikes on 93 pitches thrown. It was the 12th complete game for Spencer as a Lobo.
In the Susan Craig Classic, Spencer pitched two more complete games, with both resulting in run-rule wins for the Lobos. On Friday night against Northern Colorado, the left-hander finished with a stat line of 5.0 innings of work, two walks and 67 pitches thrown with 40 of them called strikes. In Saturday’s game against UCSB, Spencer posted 5.0 innings of work, allowing just one run on five hits, while striking out two batters and walking three. Of the 76 pitches thrown, 44 went for strikes.
LEADOFF LIFT OFF
UNM has hit five home runs to lead off an inning, with three coming in the first game against Grand Canyon. Sydney Broderick hit a home run in the top of the seventh in the 7-6 loss to Stanford, Rachael Hathoot opened up the bottom of the first in the 2-0 win over Stanford with a home run, and Bailey Klitzke (bottom third), Broderick (bottom fifth) and Andrea Howard (bottom sixth) all hit home runs in the 9-4 win over Grand Canyon to start the inning. In the case of Klitzke’s home run, Howard followed that up with a home run of her own, with both coming on the first pitch of the at-bats.
Overall, in the five games of opening weekend, the Lobos had 14 leadoff hitters reach base, with the most coming in the first game against Stanford on Saturday at four.
On the season, the Lobos have had 32 leadoff hitters reach base on 88 chances, a .364 percentage.
FRESHMEN STEP UP IN WEEKs 1, 2 and 3
UNM had three freshmen start all five games in Briana Martinez, Rachael Hathoot and Gavyn Shafer at the GCU Kickoff Tournament, with four making an appearance overall, and were put in key roles in which they delivered. To date, Hathoot and Martinez have started all 14 games.
Martinez leads the team in several offensive categories including on-base percentage, walks, stolen bases and is second in hits, runs scored and batting average, as well as is among the top five in several more categories. Martinez is third in total bases, fourth in slugging percentage and tied for third in RBI. The outfielder reached safely in all 14 games and has three multiple hit games and two multiple RBI games. She went 14-for-24 in advancing runners.
Hathoot is fourth in runs scored, tied for second in hits, fourth in total bases, fifth in walks. She is the only Lobo to have recorded a triple to date this season.
Shafer has spent time at both first and second, mostly at second, in her 13 starts and produced her first double play against Stanford in the 2-0 win. The infielder has 24 assists on the season, the second most on the team in the category, has 23 putouts (fifth on the team) and has been involved in three double plays. Her first RBI came on a sacrifice fly in the season opener against Weber State.
Sanchez has made a team-high nine appearances in the circle but also has a team-low ERA of 4.71. Opposing teams have a batting average against the pitcher at .286 as well as the fewest hits. The right-hander has thrown 21.0 innings, and also accounted for a double play to close out the 2-0 win against Stanford in which she caught a line drive and threw it to first for the final out. In the win against UC Riverside, Sanchez threw a scoreless 2.2 innings in relief, allowing just two hits while walking two and striking out one. Of the 39 pitches she threw, 25 went for strikes.
thank you, t.y.
Junior outfielder Taryn Young has had an impressive Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, recording five of her seven hits this season in California. If the five hits, three of them went for home runs, giving the Lobo five RBI in the tournament. Against San Diego, the California native reached base twice via walks. In the final game of the Mary Nutter, Young accounted for both Lobo hits and all three Lobo runs, hitting a solo home run in the fifth to tie the game and a two-run home run in the seventh with two outs. Young is second on the team in home runs, fifth in batting average and total bases, third in slugging percentage, tied for fourth in on-base percentage, and tied for second in runs scored.
ROOM TO IMPROVE
In the four games that the Lobos lost prior to the Mary Nutter, there was one common theme: runners left on base. In the season opener against Weber State and the next game against Stanford, UNM left 11 runners stranded in each game. In the loss to GCU, UNM left 10 runners on base and in the last game against UCSB, the Lobos left eight runners on base.
However, in the last four losses for UNM, the bats have become cold with the Lobos registering one hit against Missouri, two against Cal and three against Arizona State. The Lobos had their chance in the game against Cal in the fourth inning to get on the board and potentially take a lead, loading the bases with no outs, but the Lobos grounded into a double play and fouled out to left to leave two runners on base.
NATIONALLY RANKED
Through the first nine games of the season, UNM is ranked among the top 30 in a couple of categories.The Lobos rank ninth in the NCAA in walks with 66, 15th in double plays per game at 0.57 and 27th in the country in home runs per game with 1.14, and lead the Mountain West in double plays per game and home runs per game.
Individually, Cameryn O’Grady ranks second in the NCAA in doubles (nine), just one behind the NCAA leader, ninth in doubles per game (0.64) and 51st in walks per game (.79). Andrea Howard is 27th in home runs (five), 41st in home runs per game (0.36), and 12th in sacrifice flies (two). Briana Martinez is eighth in walks per game (1.00) and 57th in on-base percentage (.553).
The Lobos lead the Mountain West in home runs with 16, is third in walks (66) and fourth in slugging percentage (.439).
FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Redshirt-freshman Skylar Jenkins made her first start in Sunday’s game against UCSB, coming off of her first collegiate hit and home run the day before. Entering as a pinch hitter for the Lobos in the sixth inning against Northern Colorado, Jenkins recorded her first collegiate hit with a two-run home run to right field. Freshman Gavyn Shafer registered her first collegiate hit in the first game against UNC on Feb. 14 in the second inning, also tallying her first RBI. Sophomore Leslie Romero’s first collegiate hit also was memorable as it resulted in a RBI in the Feb. 15 game against UCSB. Romero hit a double in the fourth inning to give UNM a 4-1 lead after hitting a sacrifice fly in the first inning to allow Andrea Howard to tag from third. Pitcher Alexis Buddenhagen recorded her first strikeout as a Lobo against Arizona State in the fourth inning on a 3-2 pitch.
SCOUTING LA SALLE
The Lobos have never played La Salle previously.Outside of the Lobo Classic opponents, the Lobos and Explorers share no common opponents. The Explorers enter the tournament having just played four games this season at the Wings Etc. Classic, losing to Maine (4-2), Tennessee Tech (16-6, five), USC Upstate (2-0) and Virginia (10-2, five). Last season, La Salle went 12-33, 5-17 in conference, and was 4-15 in away games.
To date, La Salle is hitting .155 with 10 runs, 13 hits, 10 walks and 22 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .320 with 32 runs on 33 hits, seven walks and 14 strikeouts. Lex Ortman leads the Explorers with four hits, while Ashley Mendenhall leads with three doubles and six total bases. Casey Walker has the lone home run on the season for La Salle as well as a team-high three RBI.
In the circle, the Explorers have used three different pitchers with Kelly Toomey making a team-high four appearances and has started two games with one complete game. Toomey carries a 3.42 ERA on 11 hits, nine runs (seven earned), four walks and 12 strikeouts in 14.1 innings. Jenna Khantzian has made three appearances with two starts, throwing 6.1 innings with 17 hits, 12 runs (11 earned), two walks and two strikeouts and has an ERA of 12.16. Lauren Begg has made just one appearance, throwing 0.2 innings with five hits, 11 runs (three earned) and one walk.
La Salle was picked to finish ninth in the Atlantic 10 with 20 votes.
SCOUTING NORTHERN COLORADO
The Lobos are 31-13 overall against the Bears and enter the weekend having won their last four meetings against UNC. UNM defeated UNC in both its games earlier this season at the Susan Craig Classic with a 12-3 game in five innings and an 8-3 game. Since playing the Lobos the weekend of Feb. 14, the Bears went 1-4 at the Cardinal Classic, beating St. John’s 8-7 before losing to Lamar 5-2 and 4-1 and losing to St. John’s 3-2 and 12-5.
To date, the Bears are hitting .274 with 50 runs, 109 hits, 21 walks and 32 strikeouts. They have an on-base percentage of .314 and a slugging percentage of .352, while opponents have an on-base percentage of .435 and a slugging percentage of .567. Alyssa Wenzel leads the team with 16 hits, while Mady Young leads with a slugging percentage of .488, an on-base percentage of .386, six doubles and is tied with Emma Brockmann with three walks. Brockmann leads the Bears with 21 total bases and 13 RBI, and is tied with Paola Villegas with one home run.
In the circle, the Bears have used seven different pitchers with Lainey Hanehan leading with five starts and making eight appearances, with one complete game. Hanehan has pitched a team-high 31.1 innings, allowing 56 hits, 47 runs (31 earned), 16 walks and striking out 13. Maggie Thurston has made three starts and six appearances with 22.1 innings in the circle, giving up 40 hits, 22 runs (20 earned), eight walks and striking out four.
UNC returns six starters and has 13 newcomers and was picked to finish sixth in the Big Sky with 13 votes.
SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA
The Lobos are 1-1 against the Coyotes, with a 3-2 win on Feb. 26, 2016 and a 5-2 loss on Feb. 17, 2018. UNM and South Dakota have four common opponents outside of the Lobo Classic in Arizona, Boise State, Arizona State and Grand Canyon. The Coyotes enter the tournament having won their last three games.
To date, USD is hitting .290 with 125 hits, 76 runs, with 54 walks and 77 strikeouts. USD has a slugging percentage of .371 and an on-base percentage of .376. Jordyn Pender leads the team with a batting average of .432, a slugging percentage of .614 and has an on-base percentage of .500. Pender is tied to Lauren Eamiguel tie for the team high in hits with 19 and Pender and Aleesia Sainz are tied for the team high in home runs with one. Pender, Sainz and Eamiguel have tallied the only triples for the team this season. Eamiguel is tied with Dylan Underwood for doubles with four, and Courtney Wilson leads the team with nine walks.
In the circle, the Coyotes have used five pitchers, with Sarah Lisko making a team-high 11 appearances, has started six games and thrown four complete games. Lisko has a team-best ERA of 2.64 with a team-high 45.0 innings pitched, allowing 44 hits, 25 runs (17 earned), eight walks and 19 strikeouts. Alexis Devers has made 10 appearances and six starts with one complete game and has an ERA of 4.06. Devers has thrown 29.1 innings, with 33 hits, 20 runs (17 earned), striking out 21 and walking 17. Holly Fletcher has made four starts and nine appearances, with 19.1 innings in the circle. She has allowed 35 hits, 28 runs (25 earned), eight walks and 13 strikeouts. As a staff, the pitching staff has an ERA of 4.71 with five complete games and one shutout, allowing 128 hits, 86 runs, 43 walks and striking out 56 hitters.
Eamiguel was recently named the Summit League Athlete of the Week after hitting .714 (10-for-14) at the Madeira Beach Invitational with four multi-hit games and totaled six RBIs with four runs scored.
South Dakota was picked to finish second in the Summit League and outfielder Camille Fowler and pitcher Alexis Devers were named players to watch by the conference. The Coyotes have six returning starters.